America's Beloved Frenchman: The Marquis de Lafayette Quiz

“There exist certain natural rights inherent in every society of which not only one nation but all the nations together could not justly deprive an individual," he wrote. Nope, that wasn't Thomas Jefferson. How much do you know about the freedom-fighting, liberty-loving Marquis de Lafayette?

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Question 1 of 30

What is the Marquis de Lafayette's birth name?

Felipe Juan Pablo Alfonso de Todos los Santos de Borbon y Grecia

Marie-Joseph-Paul-Yves-Roch-Gilbert du Motier de La Fayette

Lafayette was born as Marie-Joseph-Paul-Yves-Roch-Gilbert du Motier de La Fayette. "It’s not my fault,” he once playfully said. “I was baptized like a Spaniard, with the name of every conceivable saint who might offer me more protection in battle.”

Rodrigo Diaz de Vivar

Question 2 of 30

When did he become "Marquis"?

at birth

age 2

Lafayette became the Marquis de Lafayette at age 2, after his father, a colonel, was killed in the Seven Years' War.

age 10

Question 3 of 30

What elite French military unit was Lafayette part of between 1763 and 1775?

Black Musketeers

In 1763, at 16 years old, Lafayette won a captain's commission and was appointed to the elite unit, the Black Musketeers. He lost it in 1775, though, during a period of reduced military spending by the French government.

Musketeers of the Guard

Royal Musketeers

Question 4 of 30

In which American war was Lafayette involved?

American Revolutionary War

Lafayette fought with the revolutionists during the American Revolutionary War.

Quasi-War

Whiskey Rebellion

Question 5 of 30

What secret society led Lafayette to learn about the American Revolution?

Freemasons

Charles-Francois, comte de Broglie, introduced Lafayette to the Freemasons, where Lafayette learned of the revolution.

Illuminati

Sons of Liberty

Question 6 of 30

How old was Lafayette when he first came to America?

15 years old

19 years old

Lafayette was 19 years old when he bought his own ship and traveled to America for the first time in 1777, inspired to fight with the American revolutionists.

24 years old

Question 7 of 30

Despite his lack of experience when he volunteered, Lafayette was commissioned at what rank by the Congress?

general

lieutenant colonel

major general

Lafayette was commissioned a major general on July 31, 1777 but was not given an active command.

Question 8 of 30

True or false: Lafayette and George Washington were close friends who corresponded until Washington died in 1799.

true

The pair became good friends after meeting a little more than a month after Lafayette arrived to volunteer in the Continental Army, and they grew to see each other in a father (Washington) and son (Lafayette) way.

false

Question 9 of 30

During which American Revolution battle was Lafayette shot in the calf?

Battle of Bennington

Battle of Brandywine

Lafayette was shot in the calf during the Battle of Brandywine, his first battle, on Sept. 11, 1777. Although injured, he successfully retreated the troops.

Battle of Monmouth

Question 10 of 30

True or false: In 1792, Lafayette, at that time seen as a traitor under the French National Assembly, was captured and imprisoned as he attempted to flee to the U.S.

true

Lafayette, seen as a tool of the French king, was a political prisoner, first by the Prussians at Wesel and then the Austrians at Olmutz.

false

Question 11 of 30

Who arranged for Lafayette's release?

Charles-Andre Pozzo di Borgo

Napoleon Bonaparte

Napoleon Bonaparte assisted in the release of Lafayette in 1797 but did not allow him to return to France.

Thomas Jefferson

Question 12 of 30

What did Lafayette and his wife, Adrienne, name their only son?

Edmund du Motier de Lafayette

Georges Washington de Lafayette

The couple named their only son, born in 1779, Georges Washington de Lafayette.

Oscar du Motier de Lafayette

Question 13 of 30

Three years later, after whom or what did Lafayette and his wife name their youngest daughter?

Esther de Berdt Reed

Marie Antoinette

The Lafayette's named their youngest daughter after Marie Antoinette, queen of France.

state of Virginia

Question 14 of 30

What name did Lafayette popularize to describe each state's militia, called minutemen, during the American Revolution?

American Army

Green Mountain Boys

National Guard

Lafayette referred to state militia's as the "national guard," the name officially given in 1916.

Question 15 of 30

Who did Lafayette's command go up against at the Virginia Campaign in 1781?

Brig. Gen. Anthony Wayne

Maj. Gen. Charles Cornwallis

During the Virginia Campaign, Lafayette commanded about 5,000 men in successfully blocking Gen. Cornwallis' troops, contributing to the patriot's victory at the Battle of Yorktown.

Maj. Gen. Nathanael Greene

Question 16 of 30

The marquis laid the cornerstone of which American Revolution monument?

Boot Monument at Saratoga, New York

Bunker Hill Monument at Charlestown, Massachusetts

Lafayette laid the cornerstone of the Bunker Hill Monument, the scene of the first major American Revolution battle.

Yorktown Victory Monument at Yorktown, Virginia

Question 17 of 30

Which was the French frigate that ferried Lafayette, carrying news that France would support the American revolution, across the Atlantic in 1780?

Concorde

Courageuse

Hermione

In 1780, Lafayette traveled on the Concorde class frigate Hermione bringing news that France would support the Continental Army with men and money.

Question 18 of 30

What nickname was Lafayette given?

Hero of Two Worlds

In 1825, Lafayette was nicknamed the "Hero of Two Worlds" because of his involvement in both the American and French revolutions.

Little Lion

Skyagunsta (Wizard Owl)

Question 19 of 30

What was Lafayette's dream for France?

a commonwealth

a kingdom

a republic

Lafayette dreamed of, yet was never able to fulfill, establishing a republic form of government in France.

Question 20 of 30

Lafayette co-authored the Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen with who's help?

Ben Franklin

George Washington

Thomas Jefferson

Lafayette co-authored Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen, similar to the U.S. Constitution, with the help of Thomas Jefferson. France's National Assembly passed it in August 1789.

Question 21 of 30

True of false: In 1830, Lafayette turned down the offer to rule as dictator of France.

true

After King Charles X was forced to abdicate, Lafayette turned down dictatorship and instead supported Louis-Philippe to lead a constitutional monarchy.

false

Question 22 of 30

Lafayette once gifted several French hounds to George Washington. When bred with Washington's English foxhounds, what new dog breed was born?

American foxhound

The American foxhound is the result of Lafayette's gift and Washington's desire for larger hunter dogs.

bloodhound

harrier

Question 23 of 30

True or false: Lafayette was the first foreign dignitary to address the United States Congress.

true

Invited by President James Monroe in 1824, Lafayette addressed both houses of Congress and visited all 24 states.

false

Question 24 of 30

How many people came to meet Lafayette when his ship docked in New York City in 1824?

4,000

40,000

80,000

About 80,000 people, two-thirds of New York City's population at the time, met their war hero at New York Harbor.

Question 25 of 30

What was Lafayette paid by Congress for his "services rendered" during the American Revolution?

only land

only money

land and money

Lafayette was awarded $200,000 and land from the Louisiana Purchase.

Question 26 of 30

Where did Lafayette die?

Fayetteville, Virginia

Mount Vernon, Virginia

Paris

Lafayette died in Paris on May 20, 1834.

Question 27 of 30

What type of funeral did President Andrew Jackson order Lafayette be given?

that he be buried in France

that he be given a military funeral

that he be given the same honors as George Washington

When news of Lafayette's death reached the United States, President Jackson ordered Lafayette be given the same funeral honors that George Washington had when he died in 1799.

Question 28 of 30

What type of funeral was Lafayette given by the French government?

a three-hour eulogy and time of national mourning

burial service under the dome at Les Invalides

There was no public funeral in France.

There was no public funeral for Lafayette because it was forbidden by the French government. He was buried, under guard, in Picpus Cemetery in Paris.

Question 29 of 30

True or false: Lafayette is buried on both American and French soil.

true

When Lafayette was buried in in Picpus Cemetery in Paris in 1834, his son covered the coffin with soil taken from Bunker Hill.

false

Question 30 of 30

When was Lafayette made an honorary U.S. citizen?

1784

1834

2002

While Maryland gave honorary citizenship to Lafayette in 1784, it took until 2002 for Congress to confer U.S. citizenry on Lafayette.